Category: Weekly Prompts

Poppy-Kettle

This weekend the Word/Photo Challenge is ‘Unusual‘. And today I went down to the beautiful Geelong waterfront for a picnic lunch and a walk around the picturesque foreshore, and afterwards, sitting at the Valhalla Bar, sipping on a beer or two, I wrote this attached poem, about the ‘unusual’ Poppy-Kettle display  Please go and visit the “Weekly Prompt” by clicking >> HERE

Poppy-Kettle

 

My lost week has fallen into Sunday

And I’m going out to enjoy the clear sunshine

The Geelong skyline is finally smoke free

Our Corio Bay is unusually dead-calm

The water is like a glassy blue mirror

As I stroll along grassy banks of the foreshore

I rest myself upon a big quartz rock

Under the shade of a palm tree

 

A perfect locale to have my picnic lunch

Sitting next to an intriguing Poppy-Kettle display

Miniature bronze statues for everyone to see

A children’s mystical piece of fantasy land

Nearby there’s also a fairy tale’s giant green dragon

Dragons are a mythical favourite of mine

The area has an aura of a child’s magical kingdom

And my dreamy imagination grasps me to be almost there

 

 

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Jan 2020

Something New

The First Challenge of 2020 is Something New

From today the Word Prompts and Photo Challenges will cease to be separate. They have merged the twice-weekly challenges and given each of them the new combined title of Word/Photo Challenge. Please go visit their exciting new Format, by clicking on .>>HERE

Something New

 

I’m at that age, I don’t need material things

Too old for men’s fashion earrings

No more swanky clothes or fancy shoes

And I don’t like trendy blue and red tattoos

I’m now alone, and live a simple life

You could balance my belongs on a kitchen knife

These days I store myself in a computer cloud

Photos, music and my poems, of which I’m proud

 

Today’s six days after Christmas

But I’m still expecting undelivered business

An annual package from Philadelphia

That’s probably been misplaced by festive hysteria

Then I spot a parcel in the letterbox

Which I excitedly unwrap,, a glorious card and socks

Not just plain socks, but a sporty printed pair

Teary, I read the card, and my heart yearns to be there

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Jan 2020

Love Surrounds Every Tree

The final photo challenge of the year “Weekly Prompts is: The Tree!  Please go and visit their fabulous by clicking >> Here

Love Surrounds Every Tree.

 

In Geelong we’ve a fancy Christmas tree

Floating on Corio Bay, for everyone to see

The Tree’s alight every night

Full of electric candles, shining bright

Also there’s a Tree at our council park

However he’s looking slightly stark

And here, under my verandah, I’ve a little Tree

Standing below our Tullawalla sign, for all the family to see

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019

My Lost Sock, A Christmas Story

The midweek word prompt on Weekly Prompts is Giving Thanks.  This poem here is an older one of mine, but I think the piece is appropriate for the prompt. Please go over and visit the “Weekly Prompts” site by clicking >> Here,

My Lost Sock, A Christmas Story

 

I’m a hand knitted woollen sock

Here’s my story from year dot

In the beginning

I started as a piece of spinning

The wool off a sheep’s back

An odd colour of brownie-black

Being spun into dark twines

On a wheel from olden times

Craftily hand knitted

Lovingly, soon to be gifted

There were two of us

We were like knitted twins

Righty and Lefty

And of course I’m Righty

Our gorgeous red-haired spinner and knitter

Had dutifully finished

Cheerfully folded and wrapped

In colourful paper and flower strap

A fabulous Christmas present

For her husband’s, aged parent

Soon it was Christmas day

Everyone’s jolly, merry and gay

Drinking red wine, local Cabernet

Eating fish, caught in a nearby bay

And presents opening time began

Families smiled and sang

We’re sitting on Pop’s lap

Gently and slowly, being unwrapped

Pop proudly exclaims and holds us up

“Look here, see what I’ve got”

Suddenly Pop throws Lefty into the corner

And I’m left dangling like “Little Jack Horner”

There’s much laughter and jokes

Kids come over and give me a friendly poke

Poor discarded Lefty, on the floor with no folks

While I’m up here being kindly stroked

There’s more giggles, they’re all staring at me

Pop’s grinning from ear to ear

Wriggling in his wheelchair to loud cheers

Oh, my discovery, Pop’s left leg’s missing below his knee

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

It Was Time To Leave

This weekend the photo challenge on Weekly Prompts is: Clock the Time. I’ve chosen an older poem, so I only have to copy and paste. Be sure to visit the fabulous Weekly Prompts site by clicking >>HERE

It Was Time To Leave

 

It’s time to tidy up my mess

Clean up the room and get dressed

It’s time to pack my suitcase

Fill the travel bag and vacate this place

It’s time to put on my famous rocker shoes

And walk away from this dream so true

It’s time to say heartfelt goodbyes

To these wonderful Philadelphia guys

It’s time for final hugs and kisses

Sad farewells and best wishes

It’s time for my usual emotional tears

Separate myself from these every day cheers

It’s time to flyaway from a land of Dragons and fairies

Leave this magical world of faraway families

It’s time to say a million thank you’s

For making my stay a Really Real great do

It’s time for me to travel back home

With glorious memories of this mystical thunder dome

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

Odd Photos

This weekend’s Photo Challenge on Weekly Prompts is, Not The Norm! And over the last few weeks, I’ve taken some rather odd photos, that are “Not The Norm” , of every day life here in Geelong…. Click >>Here, to visit ‘The Weekly Prompts’ fabulous site

A hail-storm at the Box Office Cafe yesterday, and Chris and his dog Lily, looking worried

At the Box Office Cafe again, the two photos are of the framed pictures hanging up in the toilets. The next photo is of some wall art, in the back patio area….All unusual, to say the least

Geelong’s CBD, has numerous works of street art, down the back lane-ways

Another piece of street. And then I was visiting the Valhalla Bar (Yes the same place I go to for one my poetry recital nights) for refreshments, and I took this photo…. apparently his name is Westie, and he has a hole in the front of the bucket to have a drink… very odd….

On the way home I needed a bite to eat, and wow ! a Philadelphia Cheesesteak in the main street of Geelong…. Now I’m home, trying on my new shirt from Kuala Lumpur, a gift handed to me Thursday, by my dear pen-friend from Malaysia, a beautiful shirt, certainly “Not The Norm”, to be chatting to her, cheek to cheek, and truly a lovely day, we spent together ………..

Oddly, I’ve not yet posted this Leonard Cohen, song and video clip…. enjoy……

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019